3. The importance of this duty. Next to the preaching of the word, the education of children is one of the greatest duties in the world ; for the service of Christ and of the church and state dependeth upon it. Families are the seminaries of church and commonwealth. Religion dwelt first in families, and as they grew into numerous societies, they grew into churches. As religion was first hatched there, so there the devil seeketh to crush it. The families of the patriarchs were all the churches God had in the world ; and therefore when Cain went out of Adam's family, he is said ' to go out from the presence of the Lord,' Gen. iv. 16. If the devil can subvert families, other societies and com- munities will not long flourish. Towns and nations are made up of families. A fault in the first concoction is not easily mended in the second ; here is the first making or marring. And Solomon telleth us, Prov, XX. 11, that ' even a child is known by his doings.'
4. To countermine Satan, who hath ever envied the succession of churches, and the growth and progresis' of Christ's kingdom, and there- fore seeketh to crush it in the egg, by seeking to pervert persons while they are young, and, like wax, capable of any form and impression. As Pharaoh M^ould destroy the Israelites by killing their y?""-g ones, so Satan, who hath a great spite at the kingdom of Christ, knoweth there is no such compendious way to subvert and overcome it as by per- verting youth and supplanting family duties. He knoweth that this is a blow at the root. Therefore what care should parents take to season children with holy principles, that they may overcome the wicked one by the word of God abiding in them : 1 John ii. 14, ' I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.' And cleanse their hearts by a regard to scripture direction: Ps. cxix. 9, ' Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? by taking heed thereto, according to thy word.' They are defiled already, not as vessels taken out of the potter's shop, but as vessels tainted and polluted.
5. To make good your dedication of them to God in baptism. It is a mockery to dedicate them to God, and to breed them up for the devil, the world, and the flesh, God complaineth, Ezek. xvi. 20, ' Thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, which thou hast born to me, and these thou hast sacrificed unto them to be devoured.' It is as disingenuous to offer them to God, and train them up for the world or the flesh. If they prove openly sensual, we are troubled ; but if they secretly please the flesh, we mind it not, but rather are secretly li«lpful to them in it ; if worldly, we applaud them. Thus do we betray those pouls which we sliould be a menns to save.
SERMON UPON PSALM CXXVII. 3. 95
6. If they prove naught, the aflSictioQ will be double if you have not used the means to prevent it, if by your carnal fondness j'ou have borne with their sin, and given them their wills, or indulge it by the evil example of your careless walking, or out of sloth have neglected unwearied endeavours to instruct them in godliness. But when Tou have done your part, you can the better submit to the will of God.
SERMON UPON PHILIPPIANS IV. 8.
Finally, hrethren, lohatsoever tilings are true, tohatsoever things are honest, lohatsoever things are just, luhatsoever things are pure, lohatsoever things are lovely , lohatsoever things are of good report; if theix he any virtue, and if there he any praise, think on these things. — Phil. iv. 8.
Heke is a general rule for the regulating of our conversations. In it observe —
1. The bounds of our duty are fixed, in seven i things — true, just, honest, pure, lovely, of good report, if any virtue, or if any praise.
2. The accuracy and care that we should use not to transgress these bounds : ' Think on these things,' ravra Xoyl^eaOe ; diligently take heed to them, that you may practise them.
Doct That Christianity doth adopt moralities, or precepts of good manners, into its frame and constitution.
Here I shall inquire — (1.) What these moralities are, as they are here set forth to us in the text; (2.) In what manner Christianity doth enforce them ; (3.) For what reasons.
First, What are these moralities?
1, ' Whatsoever things are true,' aXrjdrj. This concerneth both our speeches and our actions.
[1.] For our speeches ; that they be free from lying and falsehood : Eph. iv. 25, ' Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another.' Lying is when men wittingly and willingly, and with a purpose to deceive, speak that which is false. The matter of a lie is falsehood, and the , formality of it is an intention to deceive. Now this we may do two ways — either by way of assertion or promise. The lying assertion is concerning what is past and present. ; thus Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost when he brought part of the price instead of all : Acts v. 3, ' But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land ? ' The promissory lie is when we promise that which we mean not to perform : Prov. xix. 22, ' The desire of a man is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.' That which men should desire is to be in a capacity to show kindness or do good ; for greatness in the world is valuable upon this account, as it giveth a man a power to show kind- ness to others. But many tliat covet the praise and reputation of it are